Combination horizontal and vertical electric and steam iron



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Feb. 9, 1954 R. CARLSTON 2,668,431

COMBINATION AND HORIZONTAL VERTICAL ELECTRIC AND STEAM IRON Filed Aug.18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I oooooooioeoo aooaoeooeoooo oooooooooooo IN VEN TOR.

5 212% 622M320, mym@ ATTCI RN EYE Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATESiPATENT OFFICE COMBINATION HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL ELECTRIC AND STEAMIRON Ruth Carlston, Fresno, Calif.

Application August 18, 1950, Serial No. 180,200

Claims. 1

This invention relates to combination electric and steam ironsparticularly adapted for ironing sleeves, cuffs, shoulders and collarsand also for ironing material such as velvet, velveteen and corduroy,and in particular an iron having a vertically disposed cylindrical shellwith a dome shaped upper end with steam generating means within theshell and with the shell pivotally mounted to extend vertically orhorizontally and provided with perforations in the upper end with theshell vertically positioned and in the upper side with the shellhorizontally positioned.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a combination electric andsteam iron that may be used to iron dry or with steam in an uprightposition and also dry or with steam in a horizontal position.

Perforated shoes, horns, and other devices in the form of attachmentshave been provided in combination with ironing boards and the like tofacilitate ironing collars, cuffs, shoulders and other uneven parts ofgarments and whereas these are successful for parts of garments forwhich they are designed they do not meet all requirements and are notadapted for universal use. With this thought in mind this inventioncontemplates a combination electric and steam iron having a perforateddome at the end of a cylindrical shell one side of which is alsoperforated in which the dome may be used for ironing shoulders andirregular shapes and in which the shell may be horizontally positionedfor general use.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide an improvedcombination electric and steam iron in which a cylindrical shell havinga semi-spherical end may be used in either a vertical or horizontalposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationelectric and steam iron having a perforated cylindrical shell with adome shaped end that may be clamped to the end of an ironing board,table or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationelectric and steam iron having a perforated cylindrical shell with adome shaped end and having steam generating means therein which is of asimple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the inventionembodies a cylindrical shell having perforations in one side with aperforated dome shaped end, a mounting bracket on which the shell ishinged, a water storage chamber positioned in the shell, a steamgenerating chamber also positioned in the shell, electric heatingelements in combination with the steam generating chamber and also inthe side and end used for ironing, and suitable connections from thestorage chamber to the steam generating chamber and from the steamgenerating chamber through valve means provided in the hinge to steamjackets on the inner surfaces of the shell and dome shaped end wherebysteam is confined to areas communicating with the perforations of theshell and dome shaped end.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a rear elevational view showing the iron in the uprightposition.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view looking toward the opposite side ofthe iron and also showing the iron in the upright position.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the iron.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the iron showing the waterstorage chamber and steam generating chamber in elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional plan through the iron taken on line 5--5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a similarsectional plan taken on line 5-6 of Figure 4 andshowing the valve connections in the hinge with the connectionspositioned to supply steam to a jacket in the dome of the shell.

Figure 7 is a similar detail showing the hinge in the position ofsupplying steam to the jacket in one side of the shell.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the improved combination electric and steam iron ofthis invention includes a shell [0 hinged- 1y mounted on a bracket 1 Iwith a water storage chamber I2 in the upper part of the shell, agenerating chamber l3 positioned below the water storage chamber, and aheating element I4 positioned below the steam generating chamber.

The shell i0 is provided with a dome shaped outer end it havingperforations l6 therein and similar perforations ii are provided in oneside which with the cylinder in the horizontal posi tion is the upperside. An inner wall I8 spaced from the wall forming the dome shaped endof the shell provides a steam jacket 19 through which steam is suppliedto the perforations It in the end of the shell and a similar wall 20spaced from the section of the wall in which the perforations ii areprovided provides a steam jacket 2! through which steam is supplied tothe perforations ll. The jackets l9 and 2| are separat- 3 ed by adividing wall 22. A tube 23 extends from the steam jacket l9 to anarcuate wall 24 in the lower corner of the base of the shell and asimilar tube 25 extends from the jacket 2| to the wall.

The shell Ill is provided with a base 26 which is secured to a flange 21on the lower edge of the wall thereof by screws 28 and, as illustratedin Figure 4 the arcuate wall 2 4 extends across the lower corner ofthe-shell and is provided with a socket 29 in which a lug 30 of thebracket II is positioned. The lug 30 is provided with an arcuate uppersurface formed on a radius from the center of a hinge pin 3| whereby thelug provides a bearing surface over which the shell is actuated from theposition shown in Figure 4 in full lines to that shown in dotted .lines.

The surface of the lug 30 is'provid'ed Withlongitudinally disposed slots32 and 33, the slot 32 positioned to provide communicating means betweena tube 34 extended from thesteam generator l3 to the tube 23 extended tothe steam jacketl9 in the dome of the shell with the shell in theupright position as shown in Figure 4 and the slot 33 providingcommunicating means between the tube Mand the tube 25 with the shell inthe horizontally disposed position wherein the valve parts arepositioned as .shown in Figure '7.

The base 26 of the shell I is positioned in a recess 36-of the base 35of the bracket H and a latch 31 which is pivotally mounted in bearings.38-on the base 35 by a pin 39 is positioned to snap over a ledge 40 onthe outer surfaceof the shell, thereby providing means for retaining theshell in; the upright position.

The bracket H is provided with anarm M having a thumb screw 42 threadedin the end thereof and the thumb screw is provided with a frictionwasher 43 by which'the ironis clamped to the end of an ironing board 44or the like.

A cover plate 45 is secured in a recess 46 in an opening in the rear ofthe shell by screws ll and the water reservoir .and steam generator aremounted onthe plate, as shown in Figure 4. The

water reservoir 12 is providedwtih a lug4'8 that is secured to the coverplate 45 by screws '49 and, as illustrated ln Figure 5 the reservoir l2is-provided with a-nipple 50 having a filling plug 5| in theouterend,theplug' 5| being recessed in the surface of the shell so as nottointerrupt the smoothoutersurface thereof. 7

A valve 52 is providedin a connection .53 extende'd from the waterreservoir 12 totheggenerator I3 and water is supplied from the reservoirto the generatorthroughthe valve with a nozzle 5t at-one side offthe-valve -extended into the generator The valve .52 is provided withastem 55 and the valve is opened and closed by a thumb -nut 56 on theouter end of the stem.

Electric current is supplied to the iron through .acable 51 whichextends through the-coverplate 45 and on the inside of the .shell thecable is provided with connection-58 that extends to the heating elementll of the-generator l3 and also connections-59 and an that supplycurrentto a heating element inachamber 61 extended over the innersurfaces .of the water jackets l9 .and 2|.

A thermostatic element 62 may be provided .in combination withthe-electric cable to shut ofi the current when the temperature of theiron reaches a predetermined degree. n

Withtheparts arranged in this manner the improved electric steam iron isclamped on the edge of an ironing-board, table or thellike .as

shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and with current applied to the heatingelement steam is generated in the chamber [3 and with the iron in thevertically disposed position as shown in Figure 4 steam passes throughthe tubes 34 and 23 to the steam jacket [9 in the upper end or dome andarticles may be ironed by drawing them over the arcuate upper surface.

With the ironrpositioned"horizontally as shown bythedotted lines inFigure 4 steamis supplied to the perforations ll through the tubes 34and 215 and articles may be ironed on the arcuate upper surface ,bydrawing the articles back and forth as in polishing a shoe with a shoecloth.

The surfaces of the shell are polished providing smooth ironingsurfaces.

It will be understood that modifications may 'bemade in the design andarrangement of the .parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A'combination electric and steamironcomprising a cylindrical shellhaving perforations in one side and having a semi-spherical upper endalso with perforations therein, an inner wall spaced from the sidehaving the perforations therein and also spaced from the sai'dsemi-spherical upper end, a partition extended between-the inner walland shell dividingthe area between the inner wall and shell into steamjackets with one positioned in the cylindrical portion of .the shell andthe other in the semi spherical-upper end, a bracket having a clampthereon upon which the shell is positioned, means hing ing the shell tothe bracket whereby the shell is positioned vertically or horizontally,steam generating means in the shell, means connecting the steamgenerating means to the steam jacket in the semi-spherical end of-theshell with theshell in an upright position, and means connecting thesteam generating means to the steam jacket in the cylindrical section oftheshell with-the shell in a horizontal .position.

2. A combination electric and steam .iron-;comprising a cylindricalshell having perforations :in one side and having a semi-spherical upperend also -with perforations therein, an inner wall spaced from the sidehaving the perforations therein and also spaced from the saidsemispherical upper end a partition extended-between the inner Wall andshell dividingthe area between the inner wall and shell into steamjackets with one positioned in the cylindrical portion-of the'shell-andthe other in-the semispherical upper end, a bracket having a clampthereon upon whichthe shell ispositioned, means hinging the shell tothe-bracket whereby thesh'ell is positioned vertically .or horizontally,steam generating means in the shell, means connecting the steamgenerating means to the steam jacket in the semi-spherical end oftheshell withlthe shell in an upright position, meansconnecting the steamgenerating means tothe steam'jacket in the cylindrical section of theshell with the shell in a horizontal position, and latch means retainingthe shell in the upright position.

3. In a combination electric and steam iron, the combination'whichcomprises a cylindrical shell having perforations in .one'side andhavinga perforated dome shaped upper end, i steam jackets on the inner surfaceof [the shell (posi- 'tioned' to correspond with theperforations' in theside of the cylindricalportionofthe'shell'and also with the perforationsin the 'Idome'of .the s'hell,'a water reservoirpositioned"in3theishell,'a

steam generator mounted in the shell and positioned to receive waterfrom the water reservoir, an electric heating element for supplying heatto the generator, electric heating elements associated with the saidsteam jackets, a bracket upon which the shell is positioned, meanshinging the shell to the bracket whereby the shell is positionedvertically or horizontally, and means supplying steam from the generatorto the jacket in the upper end of the shell with the shell in an uprightposition and to the steam jacket in the side of the shell With the shellin a horizontal position.

4. In a combination electric and steam iron, the combination whichcomprises a cylindrical shell having perforations in one side and havinga perforated dome shaped upper end, steam jackets on the inner surfaceof the shell posi' tioned to correspond with the perforations in theside of the cylindrical portion of the shell and also with theperforations in the dome of the shell, a water reservoir positioned inthe shell, a steam generator mounted in the shell and positioned toreceive water from the water reservoir, an electric heating element forsupplying heat to the generator, electric heating elements associatedwith the said steam jackets, a bracket upon which the shell ispositioned, means hinging the shell to the bracket whereby the shell ispositioned vertically or horizontally, means supplying steam from thegenerator to the jacket in the upper end of the shell with the shell inan upright position and to the steam jacket in the side of the shellwith the shell in a horizontal position, and a valve positioned betweenthe water reservoir and generator for controlling the flow of water tothe generator.

5. In a combination electric and steam iron, the combination whichcomprises a cylindrical shell, a bracket upon which the shell ispositioned, means hinging the shell to the bracket whereby the shell ispositioned vertically or horizontally, said shell having perforations inone side and having a perforated dome shaped upper end, steam jackets onthe inner surface of the shell positioned to correspond with theperforations in the side of the cylindrical portion of the shell andalso with the perforations in the dome of the shell, a water reservoirpositioned in the shell, a steam generator mounted in the shell andpositioned to receive water from the water reservoir, an electricheating element for supplying heat to the generator, electric heatingelements associated with the said steam jackets, said hinge meanscomprising a lug extending from the bracket and provided with an arcuateupper surface, first and second slots positioned in said arcuate uppersurface in spaced relation to each other, an arcuate wall carried by theshell and provided with an arcuate inner side for slidably engaging thearcuate upper surface of the lug, a tube from the steam generator to thearcuate wall, a tube from the arcuate wall to the steam jacket in theupper end of the shell, and a tube from the arcuate wall to the steamjacket in the side of the shell, the first slot on the arcuate uppersurface of the lug communicating the generator with the steam jacket inthe upper end of the shell when said shell is in a vertical position,and the second slot on the arcuate upper surface of the lugcommunicating the generator with the steam jacket in the side of theshell when said shell is in a horizontal position.

RUTH CARLSTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 859,289 Grever July 9, 1907 983,246 McLaughlin Jan. 31, 19111,472,089 Rae Oct. 30, 1923 1,592,259 Deslandes July 13, 1926 1,612,520McLaughlin Dec. 28, 192-6

